Super Members BTM_Pix Posted September 13, 2022 Super Members Share Posted September 13, 2022 In May 2022, just over six months after her appointment as CEO, Estelle McGechie was fired from Atomos due to her being unwilling to re-locate to Australia. At the time, it seemed a bit odd because you would have thought that her appointment to that senior role would have been contingent on her re-location from the get go. According to a suit that she has now filed in the US, she claims that there was more to it than her relocation. A lot more. In addition to her claims about gender discrimination and a toxic corporate culture at Atomos, there are also allegations that there was 'rampant illegality' at the company with regards to shipping out 'dud' products to fraudulently inflate sales figures to meet projected targets. One example product mentioned in her filing is the CAST switcher add on for the Ninja V range which was shipped without any functioning firmware. The other product mentioned is the Neon grading monitor which shipped with know deficiencies that rendered it outside of the capabilities detailed in its marketing literature and packaging. The CAST product interests me because I've been surprised that for something that is such an appealing product (turns your Ninja V into an ATEM) there has been very little buzz about it since it was launched and comparatively few reviews on YouTube and certainly none from the past few month. Possibly now not as surprising as I'd originally felt. The share price of Atomos in the past twelve months certainly wouldn't have been bringing a nice warm glow to investors anyway, but this latest news has knocked it further. Needless to say, Atomos have refuted all of Estelle McGechie's allegations so it will be interesting to see how this pans out. Full story here : https://www.afr.com/rear-window/ex-ceo-alleges-rampant-illegality-at-ellerston-regal-backed-atomos-20220831-p5be2q billdoubleu, ntblowz, TheRenaissanceMan and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yannick Willox Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 I would not be surprised, as end of the 90s I bought two different HP products which were not functional upon receipt. Even after a couple of firmware updates they did not function as advertised. HP took them back, I even brought them straight back to their Belgian headquarters at that time. If HP could do it ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Andrew Reid Posted September 13, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 13, 2022 Pure speculation on my part but I could tell something might be off when I went to their IBC dinner in 2019. Extremely odd behaviour by Jeromy. Then of course the way he parted ways so suddenly after being the figurehead of the company for ages, all points to potentially quite serious stuff. I see she cited CineD in the lawsuit. Wonder if EOSHD will get any links as well 😆 The Dancing Babamef 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted September 13, 2022 Author Super Members Share Posted September 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Yannick Willox said: If HP could do it ... Yeah, I agree, tech company ships product that doesn't quite work yet isn't anything new. The hair raising one was the Neon, though, claiming that it supported Dolby Vision (which it didn't) and they didn't have clearance to use Dolby Vision trademark. Its the latter that would have caused the bigger issue as it left them wide open to a lawsuit from Dolby, who are a company that do enjoy a lawsuit. 1 hour ago, Andrew Reid said: Then of course the way he parted ways so suddenly after being the figurehead of the company for ages, all points to potentially quite serious stuff. I'm tempted to say he sailed off into the sunset but, of course, with his track record of providing false information to maritime authorities, it would be difficult to know where he was going 😉 https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/millionaire-fined-after-allegedly-fleeing-covidravaged-nsw-on-superyacht/news-story/6adc305d55df77209dd07bc72a4df4ff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Andrew Reid Posted September 13, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 13, 2022 There is some absolutely shocking stuff in the legal docs https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2022/09/8.15.22-Complaint.pdf Sir Hossein Yassaie I have actually met (man on far right of photo) Seemed like a very decent bloke to me. Surprised his name is in the lawsuit. Jeromy on the other hand I have always thought he was a complete tit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emanuel Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 19 hours ago, BTM_Pix said: In May 2022, just over six months after her appointment as CEO, Estelle McGechie was fired from Atomos due to her being unwilling to re-locate to Australia. I think this first paragraph resumes the whole story to my eyes and best bet :- ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emanuel Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 19 hours ago, BTM_Pix said: The share price of Atomos in the past twelve months certainly wouldn't have been bringing a nice warm glow to investors anyway, but this latest news has knocked it further. Reason why I've already lost any remaining trace of faith in the human being's goodwill ability too. People all look like alike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted September 14, 2022 Author Super Members Share Posted September 14, 2022 1 hour ago, Emanuel said: I think this first paragraph resumes the whole story to my eyes and best bet :- ) I'm not sure I follow. The public reason given by Atomos for firing here was that she wouldn't relocate to Australia but this is obviously something that she is contesting. Do you think the public reason given was the whole story and sole reason ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Andrew Reid Posted September 14, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 14, 2022 Sounds like a big culture and personality clash going on. But the harassment claims are on another level of darkness. Assaulting the victim at an Atomos work event. Probably has a lot of witnesses if true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emanuel Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 10 hours ago, BTM_Pix said: I'm not sure I follow. The public reason given by Atomos for firing here was that she wouldn't relocate to Australia but this is obviously something that she is contesting. Do you think the public reason given was the whole story and sole reason ? I obviously cannot know but can guess. She didn't like to be fired for sure LOL ; ) One thing I know though: I wouldn't need to be shady or play all in darkness to not dare to hire her ;- ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emanuel Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 3 hours ago, Andrew Reid said: Sounds like a big culture and personality clash going on. But the harassment claims are on another level of darkness. Assaulting the victim at an Atomos work event. Probably has a lot of witnesses if true. Exactly. If true, there will surely be witnesses... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Andrew Reid Posted September 16, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 16, 2022 If these witnesses come forward and she wins the lawsuit, Atomos are finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameraNerd Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Well here’s the story posted today on AFR.com https://www.afr.com/technology/asx-tech-firm-atomos-settled-sexual-harassment-suit-made-staff-drugs-mule-20221027-p5btgn “ASX tech firm Atomos settled sexual harassment suit, made staff ‘drugs mule’” “ ASX-listed video technology firm Atomos agreed to pay out $60,000 to a staff member who alleged a former employee sexually harassed her and expected her to make cocaine and cannabis available to staff, amplifying the troubled tech company’s reputation as a “boys club”. Atomos settled with Pamela Bloom in 2017, after her attorneys threatened to pursue a lawsuit against the company, though Ms Bloom claims she has only been paid two-thirds of the settlement. One of Atomos' video display screens. “The whole culture of the company was full of partying, and I think it’s fair to say it was pretty loose,” Ms Bloom told The Australian Financial Review. “But when I brought these allegations up everything was totally mishandled. It was a really, really horrible experience.” The sexual harassment settlement is not the only time the company has been embroiled in allegations of maintaining a sexist and harmful workplace culture.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameraNerd Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 On 9/14/2022 at 2:40 PM, Emanuel said: Exactly. If true, there will surely be witnesses... Looks like the AFR article above provides you with some insight 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Andrew Reid Posted February 17, 2023 Administrators Share Posted February 17, 2023 Quite the eye opener 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Daze Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 Hopefully Panasonic will look at this and add support for BRAW to the S5II, just in case Atomos disappear and leave said camera without RAW support over HDMI. Never understood why no mention has ever been made of BRAW for S5II (and GH6), perhaps it's something they were considering adding later, until then I'll stick to the original S5/S1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kisaha Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 It was always something about this company...I have myriads of stuff, even expensive things I don't need, but NOTHING from Atomos..I didn't like the way they moved in the industry (same with Red, I was never a fun, although I did work with some of their cameras). I hope we don't see anything similar to Black Magic, because I believed in those guys! I have BM products (expensive ones) still on their boxes! Companies offering raw through Atomos products was really weird also..why only through them? And what sinister meetings took place and shape things??!! No, I don't give them my money, I was always well treated by SmallHD and BM.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfoundmass Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 A decent little video covering this and other Atomos related issues ntblowz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntblowz Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 5 hours ago, newfoundmass said: A decent little video covering this and other Atomos related issues The only thing I don't like is they use NZ flag 😂 IronFilm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted January 8 Author Super Members Share Posted January 8 And....here comes the return of Jeromy Young as MD and CEO. https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/ATOMOS-LIMITED-50061253/news/Atomos-Limited-Announces-Board-Changes-45676557/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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